Apple Strikes Deal to Buy the Music Start-Up Lala — SAN FRANCISCO — In the most recent sign that Apple is looking at alternative ways for people to store and play their digital music, the company has agreed to buy Lala, a four-year-old start-up based in Palo Alto, Calif., a person with knowledge of the deal said Friday.

Confirmed: Apple Buys Music Service Lala, At a Fire Sale Price — Apple has purchased online music service Lala, I've confirmed with a source familiar with the transaction. Both Bloomberg and CNET reported the chats earlier today. If you'd like other confirmation, New York Times also reports that the deal has closed.

Google Acquires AppJet — We are happy to announce that AppJet Inc. has been acquired by Google. The EtherPad team will continue its work on realtime collaboration by joining the Google Wave team. — For Current Users and Customers: — What will happen to my account? Will I still be able to use EtherPad?

Confirmed: Google Acquires AppJet, The Maker Of EtherPad — That didn't take long. Less than half an hour ago we broke the news that Google was in the process of acquiring AppJet, the startup behind the powerful real-time document editor EtherPad. The official EtherPad blog has just been updated confirming the news.

Spyware threat haunts squeaky-clean iPhones — Research finds rogue app privacy risks to regulation models — Apple's line that iPhone users who toe the line and resist any temptation to jailbreak, unlock or otherwise desecrate their smartphone are protected from threats has been called into question by new research.

Intel: Initial Larrabee graphics chip canceled — Intel said Friday that its Larrabee graphics processor will initially appear as a software development platform only. — This is a blow to the world's largest chipmaker, which was looking to launch its first discrete (standalone) graphics chip in more than a decade.

Personalized Search for everyone — Today we're helping people get better search results by extending Personalized Search to signed-out users worldwide, and in more than forty languages. Now when you search using Google, we will be able to better provide you with the most relevant results possible.

Now on Google Finance: streaming news — Ever since we launched real-time and streaming quotes on Google Finance last year, we've heard from users how vital that up-to-date information has been. Especially in today's volatile financial environment, current information can be the difference between …

Yahoo! and Microsoft Finalize Search Agreement — Yahoo! Inc. and Microsoft Corporation today announced that the companies have finalized and executed the definitive Search and Advertising Services and Sales Agreement and License Agreement in accordance with the letter agreement announced in July.

FCC Wants to Know Why Verizon Increased Termination Fees — Updated with Verizon's response: The Federal Communications Commission wants to know why Verizon decided to double its early termination fee (ETF) for new customers who sign on to the wireless service using advanced devices...longhand for smartphones.

Hardware for Gmail: The ‘Gboard’ keyboard — Gmail has long had keyboard shortcuts, though learning them can be difficult. Enter the Gboard, a specialized mini-keyboard for Google's e-mail service. It debuts this Friday at an asking price of $19.99. — The Gboard consists …

Google Chrome now bundled with Avast — You wouldn't necessarily expect it, but Avast and Google Chrome might be the next peanut butter-and-jelly combo in the software world. Google's nascent browser has paired with one of the most popular free security programs in the world so that when users run …

Five Years of Digg...and counting — Five years ago today, Digg.com went live. What started as a simple idea has certainly come a long way. From a vision of a new way to surface news, and a team of three, to 40+ million monthly visitors and 80+ passionate employees...well, suffice it to say that I'm very proud of what we've become.

Web inventor: ‘Snooping’ authorities threaten Internet — Governments and companies pushing for greater monitoring of Internet activity pose a major threat to freedom and democracy, according to Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web. … To read a shortened version of this interview, please click here.

Web-TV Divide Is Back in Focus With NBC Sale — As she prepared her daughter for college, Anne Sweeney insisted that a television be among the dorm room accessories. — “Mom, you don't understand. I don't need it,” her 19-year-old responded, saying she could watch whatever she wanted on her computer, at no charge.

HTC Droid Eris To Get Android 2.0 Update — Verizon Wireless has said that the HTC Droid Eris will receive a significant system update at some point in the fist quarter of 2010. The update will boost the Eris' version of Android to at least 2.0, and possibly even 2.1.

Dell to Set up Mobile Business Unit — Dell is setting up a new business unit surrounding mobile products as it tries to expand its presence in the communications market, the company said on Friday. — The newly formed communications solutions division will be responsible …